[A study of the demand for neuropediatrics care at a regional hospital. I. Presentation of the study and general results].
OBJECTIVE
The need for healthcare in neuropediatric pathology has always existed. It increases with changes in the needs of the population determined by medical scientific and social advances. These needs, together with the frequency and diversity of the neurological pathology of infancy justify the existence of neuropediatricians and neuropediatric services in regional reference hospitals. To organize a regional neuropediatric service, it is first necessary to know the real needs of the population. The objective of this study was to determine the need for neuropediatric care in the Pediatric Department of the Hospital Miguel Servet in Zaragoza, the regional reference centre for Aragón, La Rioja and Soria.


METHODS
We studied the work carried out over 5 years by a neuropediatrician, newly arrived in a department which did not formerly have such a specialist, principally evaluating diagnostic work. In this first part we describe the material and methods used and the general results obtained.


RESULTS
We analyzed the children studied during a 5 year period (May 1990 to May 1995). We evaluated 1,294 children seen in the Outpatient department and 752 during hospital admission (not followed up in Outpatients). This gave an annual average of 409 new patients in neuropediatrics.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a great demand for neuropediatric attention. Its importance is due to the great frequency, diversity and the complexity of many of these conditions.
López-Pisón
J
J
Sección de Neuropediatría, Hospital Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, España.
Baldellou
A
A
Rebage
V
V
Arana
T
T
Gómez-Barrena
V
V
Peña-Segura
J L
JL
D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D019981:Health Care Sector; D006296:Health Services / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D006298:Health Services Administration; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006760:Hospitalization; D006783:Hospitals, State; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009462:Neurology; D010372:Pediatrics; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013030:Spain
Estudio de la demanda asistencial de Neuropediatría en un hospital de referencia regional. I. Presentación del trabajo y resultados generales.